50 years – Impeccable Experience

Your mouth starts watering and the smell of freshly baked goodness hits your nose at the Deli Salad counter. It’s one of the things that makes Shady Maple Farm Market a desirable destination for locals and out-of-towners. What is this Heaven on Earth? The Bakery at Shady Maple.

We were lucky enough to have a tour, provided by Pat Doughty, the Retail Bakery Manager, and we were treated to how their process is different than most in the area. The Bakery at Shady Maple Farm Market or Catering, Banquets, and of course the Smorgasbord – will treat your taste buds to Lancaster County delicacies – made in-house at the Bakery!

As you ascend the steps to the back area, you are instantly greeted by the smell of sweetness. Each side is geared for specialties. As you look to the right, you will see everything ready for breads of any and all variety and on your left is sweetness – cookies, pies, fillings, and those famous donuts? They have their own area where they are handcrafted to become what you know and love. If you have never been to Shady Maple – you need to get there STAT. It is an experience you won’t forget and celebrating your birthday is always the best!

You learn about the bases made for all of their specialties and how everything is done with great precision. There is specific parameters for measuring out, cookie dough, for example to be sure that every cookie is the same size, texture, and circular. When I visited, Monkeybread was on sale (as were chocolate chip cookies) and there were trays and trays of perfectly portioned ready to be freshly baked.

Ovens taller than me were in the next station of our tour. They spun and baked muffins, breads, and everything you can imagine. Racks of freshly made breads, muffins, and cooling cookies were ready to be packaged or moved onto their next station: decorating. Before we exited the preparation and baking area came the Whoopie Pie station – a place that you can imagine and taste these Lancaster County specialty – we are still saying they originated here.

The donut area was one of the most magical places on Earth. The smells overwhelming and instant hunger starts to set in. Trays and trays of Long Johns and not to mention trays upon trays of their own Glazed Croissants – which I am sad to say that I did walked out without these but these are definitely on my list for my next visit! Think you are looking for a basic donut when visiting Shady Maple? Think again! Forty-eight different donuts from five categories from their Daily Donut List:  Filled, Crullers, Fritters, Long Johns, and Ring donuts. Need a specialty cake for a specific occasion? Their website has a small portion of their designs.

With their 50th Anniversary taking place from August 5th-25th, 2020, they are design an exclusive cake, which will be on display during the celebration, highlighting Shady Maple’s history.

Here in Lancaster, we are so lucky to have such a wonderful family-owned business literally right in our backyard.

Be sure to give them at Like on their Facebook or Smorgasbord’s Facebook, but don’t forget to check out photos and behind-the-scenes here.

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